Convicted sex offender charged with non-fatal strangulation offence.

Man Charged Under New Domestic Abuse Legislation

Officers have charged a man under new legislation introduced last month to protect victims of domestic abuse.

Benjamin Flatters, aged 31, of Dorchester Road, Spalding, was charged with non-fatal strangulation following an alleged assault reported on June 23.

Flatters appeared at Lincoln Magistrates Court on July 1 where he pleaded not guilty to the strangulation charge. He pleaded guilty to three other charges: criminal damage to property, threats to damage property, and failure to comply with notification requirements of the sex offenders register.

He was remanded into custody and will face trial for the strangulation charge at a later date.

The charge of non-fatal strangulation stems from the creation of a new offence under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which came into effect nationwide on June 7, 2022. This new offence carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.

Victims of strangulation may exhibit little or no physical marks, which previously meant charges like actual bodily harm or common assault may have been applied, failing to reflect the seriousness of the act.

DI Richard Nethercott stated, "The new legislation is potentially life-changing and lifesaving. If found guilty of non-fatal strangulation, a perpetrator will face up to five years in prison. Along with non-fatal suffocation, it's a form of abuse that we sadly sometimes see in a domestic setting, where a perpetrator will use it to intimidate and control their victim. It's terrifying to endure and incredibly dangerous. We are committed to using our powers to tackle abuse, including non-fatal strangulation and non-fatal suffocation. The new legislation is an important step forward in tackling violence against women and girls."